Road marker



D 4, 1934- w. H. sEARlGH-r 1,983,102

I ROAD MARKER Filed '-Feb. 13, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented Dec. 4, 1934 ROAD MARKER William H. Searight, Toledo, Ohio, assignor to The Libbey Cataphote Corporation, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application February 13, 1933, Serial No. 656,486

11 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in road markers and is directed particularly to the type of marker comprising reecting buttons or autocollimators and positioned in the roadway along the center line at intervals so as to reflect the rays of light from the headlights of an automobile back to the driver, thus clearly advising him as to the line separating his trafiic lane from that of automobiles going in the opposite direction. In such construction, the unit is sunk into the roadway `with only the upper portion which carries the autocollimators visible. is subjected to much pressure caused by auto.-

mobiles, trucks and the like passing over it.

Sometimes the autocollimators are thus destroyed and must be replaced.

The primary object of this invention is to provide such a unit that will effectively encase one or more autocollimators and hold them in operative position regardless of the pressure to which they may be subjected.

Another object is to provide a unit adapted to hold an autocollimator so that its axis forms a predetermined angle with the plane of the road.

A further object is to provide such a unit of sturdy construction adapted to resist the expected forces caused by trucks and cars passing over it.

A still further object is to provide such a unit that will permit the replacement of autocollimators after the unit has been embedded in a roadway.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a road marker embodying this invention embedded in a concrete road.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the unit. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 of a modified form of road marker.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a unit provided with 45, four reflectors such as would be adapted to be installed at street intersections.'

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the same unit shown in Fig.` 5.

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional line 7-7 of Fig. 5.

In detail the road marker unit comprises a n hollow metal casing 1 having vertical ends 2. a horizontal top 3 and oblique portions 4 arranged at a predetermined angle joining the ends 2 and the top3. The top 3 is provided view tal-ren on Necessarily such a unit` with an inset opening 5 adapted to receive a fiat headed bolt 6. The oblique portions are formed .with circular openings 'l through which the obiective lenses 8 of the autocollimators 9 project. The autocollimators 9 are of the well known 60 strawberry shape,- as shown clearly in Fig. 3 and are partially encased in cylindrical cup-shaped mountingsv 10 which provide annular seats 11 adapted to be forced into the circular openings 7 and thus frictionally hold the autocollirnators 65 in position, which means for mounting is described in detail in Patent No. 1,918,292, granted July 18. 1933 to Edwin J. Seidenberg for Mounting for Autocollimator and assigned to Libbey Cataphote Corporation, the assignee of this application. The autocollimators and their mountings constitute autocollimating units. The casing 1 is also `provided. .with parallel vertical sides 12, the distance between the inner surfaces of sides 12 being only slightly greater than Il the diameter of the bases 13 of mountings 10.

A'hollow metal supporting member 14 of the same general shape as casing 1, but smaller, is adapted to fit within casing l when the autocollimators are in position. This supporting i' member is provided with a circular opening 15 in its top 16 adapted to align with opening 5 to receive bolt 6. The oblique sides 17 are Without the openings corresponding to '7 in casing 1, and press against the bases 13 of the mountings 10 to resist any pressure upon the objective lenses which might dislodge the autocollimators and to constantly force the autocollimating units in correct position. The supporting member 14 extends downwardly beyond the casing 1 as at 17a. The sides 18 are cut away to provide clearance over the inset opening 19 formed in the bottom 20 of base member 21. Base member 21 is rectangular in shape, is 'also formed of metal'and is adapted to be embedded in the roadway to form a retaining wall Within which the unit is positioned and also in the form shown in Fig. 3 presses against the lower portion 1'7a of supporting member 14. 'Ihe inset opening 19 is to 10 receive the threaded end of bolt 6 and provides a recess for nut 22. When bolt 6 is tightened into nut 22 base 21 is pulled upwardly and its bottom 20 pressing against the bottom of supporting member 14 securely clamps casing 1 105 to member-14 and causes a pressure to bey exerted against the bases of the autocollimating units.

vIn the modified fom shown in1 Fig. 4 the casing 1n is similar to 1 of Fig. 3 except that it is of less vertical depth, the sides and ends the ed to fit around and partially encase the asn sembled casing and support and is formed without a. bottom but is adapted to reinforce Vthe structure and form a rectangular Wall in the concrete within which the casing and support- -ing member are positioned so that the casing 1a may be removed and replaced whenever it is necessary to substitute a' newv autocollimator for a broken one. The extreme ends of supporting member 14aL which project beyond the vertical plane of the unit as at 27 function as anchoring means to further secure the unit in the grout or concrete. By threading Abolt 6 into 24 the casing l and supporting member. 14 are clamped together nand the autocollimating units are firmly held in place.

Another modified form is illustrated. in Figs. 5, 6 and 7. This structure is similar to that shown in Fig. 4 excepting only that provision is made for four autocollimators instead of two and the casing lb is rounded at its upper corners so as to present less of projectionA against which automobile tires will contact.

In this embodiment the casing 1h is substantially square in plan view and is provided with four oblique portions 4b adjacent each side and in each of which is'a circular opening adapted to receive an autocollimator the objective lens 8b thereof projecting through the opening.

lNote that the upper portion of 1b is gently rounded as at -28h so that the general contour is that of a dome.

The supporting member 14b is similar to supporting member 14 in Fig. 4 except that it is provided with four oblique sides 17b adapted to support the bases 13b of the four autocollimators. In other words ya cross section taken through the center of the structure at right angles to the line 7-7 of Fig. 5 would be the same as Fig. 7.

The unit is held in assembled position by bolt 6b threaded through casing 1b and supporting.

member 14b as shown and is surrounded by base .2lb for the purposes and in the manner heretofore described.

In new roads it is clear that such units can be built into the concrete before it hardens and for installations in already finished roads it is necessary to break a hole in the concrete of larger size than the unit, place the unit in proper position and fill around it with grout which hardens holding the unitsecurely.

In the form shown in Fig. .3f the concrete or grout will hold the nut 22 in'position so that the bolt 6 may be unscrewed and replaced as desired to permit the removal-of casing 1. In the form shown in Fig. 4 it is clear that by unscrewing the bolt 6 the casing 1a may be removed.

The angles of the axis of the autocollimators to the road are determined by the angles of the oblique portions 4 to the top. 3 which in the illustrations is 40 but' may be formed as desired. It should be .noted that by increasing the angles of the oblique surfaces to the planev of the roadway the autocollimating units can be afforded greater protection as the wheel of a vehicle will contact the road and the top of the .casing due to its large diameter and will entirely pass over the autocollimator. The same result can be obtained by maintaininglthe same angle but increasingthe height of the portion of the casing above the autocollimator.

I claim: f

l. Af road marker comprisingV a casing having oblique end surfaces formed with openings, autocollimator units projecting through said openings, a supporting member fitting within said casing and having oblique endsurfaces abutting against the bases of said autocollimator units, a base member adapted to be embedded in a roadway and adapted to fit around said casing and supporting member and means for removably securing said supporting member against the bases of said autocollimator units.

2. A road marker comprising a casing having oblique end surfaces formed with openings adapted to receive autocollimating units, a supporting member having oblique end surfaces and fitting within said casing said oblique end surfaces adapted to abut against the bases of said autocollimating units, a base member adapted to be embedded in a roadway and'iit around said casing and said supporting member, and means for holding said supporting member 105 against the bases of said autocollimating units.

3. A road marker comprising a casing formed with oblique end surfaces each such surface having an opening through which an autocollimating unit projects, a supporting member having 110 oblique end surfaces fitting Within said casing, with said oblique end surfaces abutting the bases of lsaid autocollimating units to hold them in position and means passing through said casing and said supporting member for adjusting the pressure of said supporting member against said bases and securing it in such position and for removably securing said casing to said supporting member.

4. A road marker comprising a hollow casing having oblique end surfaces each such surface formed with an opening, said casing also provided with a hole in its top, an autocollimating unit projecting through each opening, a hollow supporting member having obliquevend surfaces and fitting within said casing with said oblique surfaces abutting the bases of said autocollimating units, said supporting member provided with a hole in its top, a bolt projecting through said holes and means coacting with said bolt for adjusting the pressure of the oblique end sur. faces of said supporting member against the bases of said autocollimating units and for clamping said supporting member Ato said casing.'

5. A road marker comprising a hollow casing l adapted to be partially embedded horizontally in a roadway having an oblique surface and a horizontal top surface, said oblique surface formed with an opening adapted to be exposed, an autocollimating unit projecting through said opening, a supporting member having an oblique surface and a horizontal surface and tting within said casing, with said oblique surface positioned against the base of said autocollimating unit and means passing through said.- horizontal surfaces and operable from above the casing for adjusting the pressure of said oblique surface of said supporting member against the base of said autocollimating unit and for clamping said supporting member to said casing.

6. A road marker comprising a hollow casing having oblique surfaces each suc'h surface formed with an opening, said casing also provided with a hole in its top, an autocollimating unit projecting through each opening, a hollow supporting member having oblique surfaces and fitting within said casing, with said oblique surfaces positioned against the bases of said autocollirnating units, said supporting member provided with a threaded hole in its top, and a bolt projecting downwardly through the hole in the casing and threaded into the hole in the supporting member so that when tightened it will draw the supporting member toward the casing and cause increased pressure to be exerted by the oblique surfaces of said supporting member against the bases of said autocollimators and clamp .said casing to said member.

7. A road marker comprising a hollow casing having oblique surfaces each such surface formed with an opening, said casing also provided with a hole in its top, an autocollimating unitv projecting through each opening, a hollow supporting member fitting within said casing and having oblique surfaces and ends and sides depending belowl the bottom of said casing and provided with a hole in its top, a hollow base member adapted to be embedded in a roadway to form a retaining wall withinl which said casing and said supporting member are positioned and provided witha holev in its base, a bolt positioned downwardly through said holes, a nut threaded on said bolt beneath the hole in said base member, said bolt when tightened on said nut adapted to pull said base toward'said oas` ing thus causing the oblique surfaces of said supporting member to press tightly against the bases of said autocollimating units.

8. A road marker comprising a hollow casing having a plurality of oblique surfaces extending upwardly and inwardly each facing a different direction and formed with an opening, said casing having a horizontal'top formed with a hole, an autocollimating unit projecting through each opening, a hollow supporting member tting within said casing having oblique surfaces corresponding with the oblique surfaces of said casing each of said oblique surfaces positioned against a base of one of said autocollimating units, said supporting member having a horizontal top formed with a threaded hole, a base member extending around said casing and supporting member, and a bolt projecting downwardly through the hole in the casing and threaded into the hole in the supporting member so that whentightened it will draw the 4bedded in'a roadway comprising a casing havsupporting member toward the casing and increase the pressure exerted by the oblique surfaces of 'said supporting member against the bases of said autocollimators and clamp said casing to said member.

9. A road'marker comprising a casing having au oblique end surface formed with an opening, an autocollimating unit projecting through said opening, a supporting member fitting within said casing and having an oblique end surface abutting the base of said autocollimating unit, a base member adapted to be embedded in a roadway and t around said casing and supporting member and means positioned through said casing and supporting member for increasing the pressure of said supporting member against the base of said autocollimating unit and for clamping said supporting member to said base member..

l0. A road marker adapted to be partially eming oblique end surfaces formed with openings adapted to be exposed, autocollimator units projecting through said openings, a supporting member fitting within and extending below said casing and having oblique end surfaces abutting against the bases of said autocollimator units, a base .member adapted to t around said casing and supporting member and abutting the lower part of said supporting member and means positioned through said casing, said supporting member and said base member whereby said casing is removably secured within said base member and said base member moves said supporting member into greater supporting contact with the bases of said autocollimator units.

l1. A road marker adapted to be partially embedded in a roadway comprising a casing having oblique end surfaces formed with openings adapted to be exposed, autocollimator units projecting through said openings, a supporting member fitting within and extending below said casing and having oblique end surfaces abutting against the bases of said autocollimator units,

a bottomless base member adapted to fit around said casing and said supporting member, said supporting member provided with outwardly extending portions positioned below said base member and means positioned through said casing and said supporting member whereby said casing is removably secured to said supporting member, said supporting member is secured to said base member and said supporting member is moved to increased supporting contact with the bases of said autocollimator units.

W'ILLIAMH. SEARIGHT. 

